You
must be aged 18 or over to order any air rifle or air pistol, you may be
asked to confirm age and proof of identity.

The law
makes no distinction between air rifles and more powerful guns for which you
need a licence – they are all classed as firearms. This means that any offence
you commit can carry a very heavy penalty – and there are at least 38 different
offences. Following this code will help you to keep on the right side of the
law, but, if you have any doubt, seek advice from BASC or your local police
firearms licensing department.

18 Years Old

If you
are 18 years or older there are no restrictions on buying an air rifle and
ammunition, and you can use it where you have permission to shoot.

14-17
Years Old

You can

Borrow an air rifle and ammunition

Use an air rifle, without supervision, on private premises where you have
permission

You cannot

Buy or hire an air rifle, or ammunition, or receive one as a gift. Your air
rifle and ammunition must be bought and looked after by someone over 18 –
normally your parent, guardian or some other responsible adult.

Have an air rifle in a public place unless you are supervised by somebody aged
21 or over, and you have a reasonable excuse to do so (for example, while on the
way to a shooting ground).

Under
14 Years Old

You can

Use an air rifle under
supervision on private premises with permission from the occupier - normally the
owner or tenant. The person who supervises you must be at least 21 years old.

You cannot

Buy, hire or receive an air
rifle or its ammunition as a gift, or shoot, without adult supervision.

Parents or guardians who buy
an air rifle for use by someone under 14 must exercise control over it at all
times, even in the home or garden.

It is illegal to sell an air rifle or
ammunition to a person under 18 years of age.

Where you can
Shoot

Where you
intend to, always ensure that you are authorised by the landowner or person with
the sporting rights and that you know precisely where the boundaries are. Get
permission in writing, if possible, to remove any doubt.

Whenever
you are in a public place you should carry the rifle in a gun cover and always
ensure that it is unloaded and not cocked.

Trespassing

Going on
to private land, or water, where you do not have permission is trespassing, and
if you are carrying an air rifle it becomes armed trespass. Whether the gun is
loaded or not, or whether you are carrying pellets, is irrelevant – armed
trespass is a serious criminal offence carrying heavy penalties.

Only shoot where you have the permission of the landowner or tenant.

Firing Pellets Beyond your Boundary

It is an
offence to fire an air rifle pellet beyond the land where you have permission to
shoot, unless the occupier of the neighbouring land has also given you
permission. Where someone under 14 is shooting, both the young person and the
supervising adult can be prosecuted.

It is
also against the law, in England and Wales, to fire an air rifle within 50 feet
of the centre of a highway if this results in someone being injured, interrupted
or endangered. These offences could be committed, for example, when someone is
shooting in their garden close to a road and the pellets ricochet onto the
highway.

It is an
offence in Scotland to discharge any gun in a culpable or reckless manner. This
means shooting without caring about the safety of others.

What you can shoot

Target shooting

There are numerous clubs
catering for this growing sport, throughout the UK, and they can offer great
help and shooting opportunities to both the novice and the experienced shooter
alike.

If you want to practise on
your own premises make sure that you have an effective backstop. Soft earth or
chipboard is ideal, but don’t use any hard, polished surface because it is
likely to cause a dangerous ricochet or could cause the pellet to rebound and
hit the shooter.

Remember that you can be
prosecuted if any pellet goes beyond your land, whether it is directly fired or
an accidental ricochet.

Principal
quarry for air rifles

Live quarry
shooting

Many people shoot live
quarry, either on their own land or where they have permission. The species
which you can shoot are limited by the law and by the effective power of an air
rifle.

All birds are protected, and
although there are seasons when you can legally shoot game, and some wildfowl,
they are not suitable quarry for air rifles. However, as long as you are
complying with firearms law, you can shoot certain pest bird species. These are
covered by open general licences which, in simple terms, mean you can shoot the
birds listed, provided you have the landowner’s permission and provided you are
doing it for one of the reasons allowed by the licence.

These reasons include:

to protect crops

to protect game and
wildlife

to protect public health
or safety

You can shoot mammal pests
at any time provided you have the landowner’s permission. Air rifles are
suitable for: brown rats, grey squirrels, stoats, mink and rabbits.

Respect for
the quarry

Always shoot well within
your capabilities. Practise on targets, never on live quarry, to establish the
maximum range at which you and your rifle can consistently hit the point of aim
that will ensure a clean kill; this is usually the head, and normally has a
maximum diameter of about three centimetres (an inch and a quarter). Practise
regularly to improve your shooting and stalking skills.

Make sure you know where the
kill zone is for each species that you are going to hunt. For mammals the
side-on head shot is the preferred target. For birds, head shots are effective
but difficult because the target area is very small and rarely holds still.
Shots to the breast or body cavity give a bigger target area but remember that
dense feathers or a crop full of grain will limit the pellet’s effectiveness.
The area under the wing is a good place to aim for.

You must zero your rifle and
sights (check their correct alignment) before starting any hunt; usually a
riflescope will come with instructions on how to do this, otherwise there are
many books which explain the principles.

It is your responsibility to
be able to recognise your quarry and know when and where you may shoot it. Never
shoot unless you have positively identified your quarry.

Wounded
quarry

Always despatch wounded
quarry quickly to minimise suffering, either with a second shot or a sharp blow
to the base of the skull. Be particularly careful when dispatching wounded
rodents – they can bite and scratch with a risk of serious infection. DO NOT
TOUCH RATS. They may carry fatal diseases, so you should lift them with a fork
or shovel.

Suitable
air rifles for hunting

Always ensure that your air
rifle is powerful enough to achieve a clean kill of your chosen quarry and do
not attempt a shot of more than 30 metres. Generally the ideal power level is
just over 11 ft lb (15J). For an air rifle that is more powerful than 12 ft lb,
(16.25J) you must have a firearm certificate.

Never shoot at partially
obscured quarry or shoot at quarry which could escape into cover before it can
be retrieved. For example, do not shoot rabbits which are less than two metres
from their burrow.

Certain types of air rifle
are more suitable for hunting than others. Avoid those air rifles which take
excessive time to charge, load and fire. Repeating air rifles give an immediate
second shot which is always an advantage. All air rifles must be well maintained
in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. If in doubt - consult
your local dealer.

Choose pellets which are
designed for hunting. These will produce a cleaner kill than those which are
intended for target shooting. Check every pellet before loading to ensure that
it is not damaged or deformed.

Check list
in the field

Always check with the
landowner, in good time, if you want to go shooting.

Always treat an air rifle
as though it is loaded and keep its muzzle pointing in a safe direction.

On picking up or being
handed an air rifle, check immediately to ensure it is not loaded e.g. that it
is uncocked and that there is no pellet in the breech. Be particularly careful
when checking pre-charged pneumatic air rifles.

Before you fire your
rifle, consider where the pellet could go. Be sure that no damage can result
if you miss your intended target.

Always bear in mind the
possibility of a ricochet.

Never put down a loaded
air rifle or leave it unattended.

Use of a silencer can
minimise disturbance to wildlife, livestock and other countryside users.

Remember that all shooters
will be judged by your actions and ensure that your conduct is always above
reproach. Encourage the same attitude in your shooting companions. Above all,
be safe and be sensible.

At the end
of the day

Always leave your shoot in
the condition in which you would like to find it. Make sure that you collect all
your equipment.
It is courteous to thank the landowner and to offer him something from the bag
if you have shot any edible quarry. Take care of your edible quarry – remember
it is food, store it in a cool place and never waste it.

Non-edible quarry should be
disposed of discreetly, carefully and should not create a health hazard. This is
a legal requirement. Under most circumstances deep burial beyond the reach of a
carnivorous animal would be appropriate.

The displaying of carcasses
on fences or on a gamekeeper’s “gibbet” serves no useful purpose and may offend
other countryside users.

Care and
maintenance

Take care of your gun; it is
a precision weapon and damage or mistreatment can seriously affect its
performance and safety.

Do not attempt to strip an air rifle without having the proper tools, facilities
and knowledge to do so safely. Many air rifles contain powerful springs which
can cause serious injury if released in an uncontrolled manner.

After shooting, ensure your
air rifle is dry and free from dirt before storing it. Metalwork may benefit
from a wipe down with a lightly oiled rag or a silicone cloth. The barrel should
be cleaned using a proper barrel cleaning kit, and again lightly oiled. Only use
the correct lubricants in accordance with the rifle manufacturer’s instructions.
Always carefully wipe the oil from the bore before shooting.

The BASC
ideal is ...

That all who shoot in
Britain conduct themselves according to the law and to the highest standards of
safety, sportsmanship and courtesy, with full respect for their quarry and a
practical interest in wildlife conservation and the countryside.

Never guess at what
the law allows. If in doubt, contact BASC or
your local police firearms licensing department.